Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Ohio-based Ultimate Fighting Championship fans will not
have to wait any longer to learn the headliner on the Columbus
card. On Thursday night, Ariel
Helwani broke the news that
UFC Columbus, also known as UFC on ESPN 33, will now draw
heavyweights in the main attraction. Curtis
Blaydes (15-3, 1 NC) will take on Chris
Daukaus (12-4) in a matchup between top-10 fighters in the
division on March 26. The big men will throw down inside the
Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Blaydes was quick to confirm
the booking on his Instagram shortly
after its announcement.
At the beginning of 2021, Blaydes had a four-fight win streak cut
short by a Derrick
Lewis uppercut atop UFC Fight Night 185. Since then, “Razor”
Blaydes rebounded with a clear-cut decision win over Jairzinho
Rozenstruik. As a pro, the Elevation Fight Team product has
prevailed by knockout in 67% of his wins. This includes stoppages
of Alistair
Overeem, Junior dos
Santos and Alexey
Oleynik over his career.
In his last time out, for the first headlining match of his UFC
tenure, Daukaus fell victim to a Lewis knockout as well. The defeat
put an end to a five-fight knockout streak, which included four
wins in the Octagon and none needing to go longer than the 6:23
mark. Not one to be outdone by his opponent, the Philadelphia
native posts a 92% knockout rate, and he has not gone the distance
since 2016, a span of 11 fights.
UFC on ESPN 33 takes place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus,
Ohio, on March 26. In addition to the newly minted heavyweight
headliner, a litany of other matches – 15 now in total – will go
on, including a pair of pivotal women’s bouts when Michelle
Waterson takes on Amanda
Ribas at strawweight and Sara McMann
meets Karol Rosa
in the bantamweight division. Finally, fan-favorite Matt Brown
will receive a homecoming to his home state when he takes on
Bryan
Barberena at 170 pounds.
